II Corinthians 10:13b “…but will boast (celebrate, glory in) only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.”

Recognize our area of influence.

To Reach those who we were assigned.

GOAL: I believe God has called everyone of us to lead someone to Christ in 2017.

We can ignite nations. Ignite - to set afire or to cause to blaze with flames.

We can impact a 4 state area.

Impact - the force of impression from one thing on another; a significant or major affect.

We can, We will, We must influence culture in a 20 mile radius of TWBC.

Influence - Change Culture

When you know, you will grow. You will “arise”. The heart of this series, DNA, is to know who we are at TWBC so we can Grow or Arise to the fullness of who we are called to be.

DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms.

For this series, DNA, we are going to explain the DNA of TWBC using Mark 5 as a launch point knowing that there are several scriptures we could use in addition to illustrate our DNA, our Core.

Empower: We embrace all individuals by honoring people for who they are not what they can do.

Mark 5:1-20

1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Authentic Relationships - We connect with Father

Faith in Motion - Observant Action

Eyes Open - We are looking for opportunities.

Opportunities for What?

Because of our “Authentic Relationship” with the Father we put our “Faith in Motion” continually looking with “Eyes Open” to “Empower” people.

Empower: We embrace all individuals by honoring people for who they are not what they can do.

Embrace

We embrace all individuals

The question is where do you draw the line?

The answer is all people! I am so glad God didn't draw a line with me.

Romans 5:6-8 “6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Why do we expect lost people to act any way other than lost.

Embrace says - Belong, Believe, Behave

Come belong at TWBC. Find a home to belong to. Over time you will believe like us because we create an environment for you to “Connect” with the Father. When a connection happens your actions, the way you behave will change.

Religion says - Behave, Believe, Belong

To belong to us you must first change your action and behave differently. Then, through behavior modification you will believe like us. Then when you act right and say the right things you can belong.

I am not drawing a line of who can and cannot come or who we will or will not reach.

The anointing in us is greater than the sin around us.

Religion says “You can’t touch ‘unclean’ or you will be ‘unclean’.

Love and Anointing says “You touch unclean and they become clean.”

Jesus when was touched by the woman with the issue he should have become unclean, instead she was cleaned.

Honor

by honoring

What is Honor?

Honor – putting value or worth on something or someone

Dishonor – treating something or someone as common

Now if we were to be real honest with ourselves many times we honor people based on what they can do for us and not who they are to the Father.

Honor – Causes everything around it to elevate

Dishonor – Causes everything around it to deteriorate

Marriage, Career, Health

REACH is all about Honor. Putting great value and worth on those assigned to us!

They are People

people for who they are not what they can do.

If we limit “Honor” to only what people can do we never give someone an opportunity to grow into who they are.

Mark 5:1-20 is a great example.

Jesus encounters a societal reject.

He was a bound man and out of control. He was unclean and had unclean demonic spirits in him. He was living among the dead. He was uncontrollable and would cut himself. Not to mention naked, dirty and smelly.

Now if Jesus would only honor people for what they could do instead of who they are as a person this man would have died in hopelessness.

Jesus’ “No” was not a rejection it was a commission!

17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

When Jesus met this man, the man, could do nothing for him. But he honored him for who he was, not what he could do.

Look at the result. Jesus goes back to the same place where he healed the tormented demonic.

Mark 6:53-56

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

Who are we “Empowering” that could change our Decapolis, or 20 mile radius?